JPH06178368A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately and easily confirm the operation state of a remote controller by providing a function displaying a transmitted code and to permitting a test switch to instruct the start and the stoppage of a function operation. CONSTITUTION:A key operation part 4 is composed of plural operation switches and a microcomputer 13 processes an input signal from the operation part 4 to display key-inputted contents, etc., on a display part 3. Then, a remote controller provided with a transmission circuit 14 converting the output signal of the computer 13 into an infrared signal is provided with a test mode function displaying the transmitted code signal to the display part 3. Furthermore, the test switch 12 is provided so as to instruct the start and the stoppage of the test function operational to continuously display information displayed on the display part 3 until the operation switch is operated. Thus, whether data abnormality is generated inside of the remote controller by using a test mode or generated after being transmitted from the circuit part 14 is easily judged. Then, the operating state of the remote controller is accurately and easily confirmed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless remote controller for remotely controlling an air conditioner or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A wireless remote controller (hereinafter, referred to as a remote controller) for remotely operating an air conditioner or the like includes a key operation section including a plurality of operation switches, a microcomputer for processing an input signal from the key operation section, and a key input. It is composed of a display unit that displays the contents that have been input, a transmission circuit unit that converts the output signal of the microcomputer into an infrared signal and sends it out, and the data such as the set temperature keyed in is displayed each time. It is supposed to be displayed in the section.

[0003]

By the way, there is a method of confirming whether or not the remote control operates normally by actually operating the equipment to be operated or by causing a confirmation device dedicated to the remote control to receive a remote control signal. However, if the other side does not operate according to the contents of the transmission, abnormal data will be generated in the transmission process, or the storage unit (RA
There is a problem that it is not possible to judge whether or not the abnormality has already occurred in M). Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device having a function of more accurately and easily confirming the operating state of the remote control.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and includes a key operation section composed of a plurality of operation switches, and a microcomputer for processing an input signal from the key operation section. , A test mode function for displaying a transmitted code signal on the display unit on a remote controller having a display unit for displaying contents input by a key and a transmission circuit unit for converting an output signal of the microcomputer into an infrared signal. In addition to having it, we decided to provide a test switch to instruct the start and stop of the test mode function operation.

[0005]

With the above configuration, the transmitted code signal can be displayed on the display section by operating the test switch, so that the transmission content of the remote controller can be confirmed and the device does not operate normally. In such a case, it can be determined whether the cause is the remote controller side or the device side.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows an upper surface of a main body of a remote controller for an air conditioner. 1 is a main body, 2 is a window for transmitting infrared signals, 3 is a display section using liquid crystal, 4 is a plurality of operation switches 5a and 5b. , 5c, 5d is a key operation unit. FIG. 2 shows the bottom surface side of the main body 1, and there is a storage portion 7 for storing a plurality of batteries 6 on the bottom surface side, and an opening surface of this storage portion 7 has a detachable battery lid 8 Is designed to be attached. Two small holes 9 and 10 are formed on the side of the main body 1 with which the battery lid 8 abuts, and a switch used at the time of initialization is arranged inside the hole 9 (inside the main body 1). A test switch according to the present invention is arranged inside the hole 10 (inside the main body 1).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the remote controller. Reference numerals 3, 4 and 6 respectively denote the display section described above and a key operation section including switches 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d.
It is a battery for power supply. 11 is a switch corresponding to the hole 9 shown in FIG. 2, 12 is a test switch corresponding to the hole 10,
Reference numeral 13 is a microcomputer that processes an input signal accompanying the switch operation, and 14 is a transmission circuit unit that outputs an infrared signal. Although not shown in the microcomputer 4, an A / D conversion unit for converting the input signal from each switch into a digital signal, a storage unit for holding the input signal and the like, a timer unit for controlling the timing of reading and transmitting the input signal, There is a code signal generation unit or the like for generating a code signal, and the output signal from this code signal generation unit is used for the transistor T of the transmission circuit unit 14.
The light emitting element D is operated by driving r.

The microcomputer 13 has a test mode function of displaying the transmitted code signal on the display unit 3. When the test switch 12 is pressed, the transmitted code signal is read from the storage unit and displayed on the display unit 3. It is supposed to be displayed. The information of the remote controller is composed of, for example, a code of 8 bits × 8 bytes as shown in FIG. 4, and by displaying this information on the display unit 3, the transmitted information can be confirmed. In actual operation, when the test switch 12 is pressed after the remote control data transmission is completed, the test mode is entered and the test switch
When 12 is pressed again, the test mode is released. When the test mode is entered, for example the fifth 8-bit data in the data format as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed in the form of “5: 2C” as shown in the display section 3 in FIG. The information displayed on the display unit 3 is continuously displayed unless the operation switch 5a is operated, for example, and the next information is displayed when the operation switch 5a is operated.

The control operation will be described below with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. First, in step ST1, it is determined whether or not the transmission of remote control data has been completed, and if it is determined that transmission has been completed, then in step ST2 it is determined whether or not the test switch 12 has been pressed. If the test switch 12 is not pressed, step ST
The process proceeds to step 10 and ends, but if pressed, the process proceeds to step ST3. In this step ST3, it is determined whether or not there is a key operation input. If there is no key operation input, the operation proceeds to step ST5, but if there is a key operation input, the operation proceeds to step ST4 and 1 is added to the data number n. For example, when the current data number n is the data number 4 relating to the temperature information shown in FIG. 4, if there is a key operation input, the process proceeds to the data number 5 relating to the next driving information.

In step ST5, the data number n is 8
If it is 8 or less, the process proceeds to step ST7. If it is 8 or more, the process proceeds to step ST6 and the data number n is returned to the first 1, and then the process proceeds to step ST7. . Step ST7
Then, the data of the data number n determined by the work up to step ST6 is output to the display unit 3 and displayed. In the next step ST8, it is determined whether or not the test switch 12 has been pressed again.
Returning to T3, if there is no key operation input during this time, the previously displayed data is continuously displayed on the display unit 3 as it is. If it is determined in step ST8 that the test switch 12 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step ST9, the test mode is released and the process proceeds to step ST10, and the series of operations is completed.

[0011]

As described above, in the case of the remote controller having the test mode function and the test switch as described above, by using the test mode, whether the data abnormality occurs in the remote controller or not is transmitted from the transmission circuit section. Since it is possible to easily determine whether or not the data is abnormal after being processed, the serviceability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a remote controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the remote controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of a remote controller showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a format explanatory diagram of remote control data according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main body 2 Transmission window 3 Display section (liquid crystal display section) 4 Key operation section 10 Hole 12 Test switch 13 Microcomputer (Microcomputer) 14 Transmission circuit section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A key operation section comprising a plurality of operation switches, a microcomputer for processing an input signal from the key operation section, a display section for displaying contents input by a key, and an output signal of the microcomputer. A remote controller having a transmission circuit section for converting to an infrared signal has a test mode function for displaying the transmitted code signal on the display section, and a test switch for instructing start and stop of the test mode function operation is provided. A remote control device characterized in that 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the test switch is provided on the back side of the remote control body.